Apparatus for regulating the flow of liquid



April 20, 1943. c. H. EVANS APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF LIQUID l a e M A m 3 \\\\\\\v e 4 e mm 4 4 4 5 0 09m mm 42 l an L w mm 4 a d I e I l 9 2 Fig.2.

I mien/tor Attorney Apnl 20, 1943. c. H. EVANS 2,316,348

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF LIQUID Filed July 3, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I m I 46 m- Fig.3.

Inventor $41K 541mm y CJ Z. M.

Attorney April 20, 1943. c, EVANS 2,316,848

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF LIQUID Filed July 3, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.4.

Iwenior 2?. gm ma y M. 2,. M.

.dttorney April 20, 1943. c. H.-EVAN$ ,8

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW 0F LIQUID Filed July 3, 1940 4" Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.5

I nven tor Patented Apr. 20, 1943 APPARATUS FOR REGULATIN G THE FLOW OF LIQUID Cyril Harry Evans, Snaresbrook, London, England, assignor to Spillers Limited, Markyate, near St. Albans, England, a British company Application July 3, 1940, Serial No. 343,798

In Great Britain July 81, 1939 13 Claims.

The invention relates to an apparatus for the regulation of liquid flow, particularly in apparatus for the delivery of a constant flow of liquid under a constant head maintained in relation'to ,the outlet of the apparatus. The invention is of particular application where a small flow of liquid is to be controlled.

The invention has among its objects to provide apparatus which will be effective to maintain a substantially constant flow at a predetermined rate, whilst providing a wide range of adjustmentfor the rate of flow with a small and compact apparatus.

The invention has further among its objects to ensure that the constant flow may be maintained irrespective of whether the pressure at the delivery is at, above or below atmospheric pressure prevailing.

It is known that the flow of liquid through an orifice is dependent upon the head or pressure of the liquid, disregarding any characteristics of the liquid itself which might affect the rate of flow, such asviscosity, temperature and the like. Thus, if the head is maintained constant, as by means of an overflow valve or a ball valve or any other suitable device, provided the size of the orifice remains the same and the orifice is unobstructed, a substantially constant flow of liquid is obtained.

It is usual for the flow of liquid to be regulated by adjustment either of the size of the orifice or of the head of liquid or in some cases by regulation of the pressure of the air or gas above the liquid. The change in size of the orifice necessary to ensure a very small variation in the rate of flow, however, is so minute as to be almost impossible to secure by mechanical means with any degree of exactitude. Again, while regulation of the rate of flow of a liquid by variation of the head is itself relatively a simple matter, in order to secure a wide range of variation, for example from about 1 to 10, an enormous varia tion in the head of the liquid is necessary; thus regulation in this manner is limited by the size of the apparatus,

7 The apparatus according to the invention overcomes the disadvantages of the known methods and provide for the regulation of the rate of flow in both large and small flows of liquid.

. According to the invention regulation of the rate of flow is eifected by varying the head of the liquid and simultaneously eifecting a variation in the cross-sectional area of the flow of liquid delivered by the apparatus.

trolling apparatus is provided to maintain a constant head, comprising a vessel through which the liquid flows, having two or more openings or orifices, serving as inlets and outlets with reference to the said vessel, the control means for the inlet orifices and the outlet orifices being inter-connected in such manner that a movement to open or close an inlet opening serves automatically to efiect an adjusting movement in the cor-responding outlet opening, whereby the constant head can be readily varied within relatively wide limits in a small and compact apparatus, while at the same time the outlet opening or delivery orifice is adjusted in cross-sectional area within very fine limits over a wide range of adjustment. Thus, the apparatus may include 'a float chamber connected between the supply and the delivery and a float mounted in the float chamber and carrying oppositely directed tapering needles which project respectively into the openings of the inlet to and outlet from the float chamber so that a movement of the inlet opening with reference to the tapering needle projecting thereinto serves to vary the head of liquid and results automatically in an adjustment of the relative position of the needle in the outlet opening so as to increase or decrease the eifective area of the orifice. Thus simultaneously with a variation of the head there is automatically secured a variation in size of the outlet orifice, together with the advantages of the combined adjustments.

According to the invention furthermore, the

pressure below the inlet of the apparatus is maintained the same as the pressure below the outlet, and this condition may be secured by placing the space below the inlet in communication, as by pipes or tubes, with the space below the outlet, thus avoiding the efiect of a difference in pressure in varying the flow of liquid through the apparatus.

The invention further comprises the features of construction hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a construction of the apparatus according to the invention. Figure 2' is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2 of Figure '1.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a modification of construction of the apparatus illustrated in Figures land 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a further modification of construction of the apparatus represented in Figures 1 and 2,.

passing from the float chamber.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of an alternative form of the apparatus according to the invention.

In carrying the invention into efi'ect according to the construction represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a float i of a suitable material is disposed within a float chamber 2 formed by a cylinder 3 of transparent material, such as glass, mounted between and suitably seated in a base block 4 and closed by a closure block 5. For this purpose the base block 4 and the closure block 5 are provided with annular seatings for the ends ofthe glass cylinder 3 and liquid-tight and pressure-tight seals are provided by means of glands 6, serving to compress suitable packing rings 1 in the annular seatings within the blocks 4 and 5. The blocks are maintained in fixed relation.

The liquid to be fed to the float chamber 2 is supplied by way of a connector 8 in the lower block 4, which connector communicates with a passage 9 provided with a control cock l and leads to a transverse passage H by which com munication is effected with a chamber l2 wool. From the filter chamber l2 the liquid passes to a flow meter comprising a conical or tapered tube l3 in which is disposed an indicating float M, the tube |3 being received into bores l and "5 provided respectively in the blocks'4 and 5, the tube being maintained liquidtight by means of glands I1 and I8 serving to compress resilient washers or packing in the in whichis packed a filter material such as glass vided with an outlet orifice 35, the fitting being removable and exchangeable. The annular space around the axially projecting portion serves as a sump for any deposits and impurities. The discharge chamber 33 is closed by a closure plate 36 engaging the screw-thread of the plug 32 and is provided with a socket 31 for connection with a conduit by which the liquid from the float chamber is to be conveyed away.

The float isprovided to carry in axial disposition an upwardly directed tapering needle 38 and a similar but longer needle 39 downwardly directed, the said needles being adapted respectively to enter the inlet orifice 30 and the outlet orifice 35 with clearance. Thus, when it is desired to vary the rate of flow of liquid from the supply the elevation of the orifice 30 with referstufling boxes formed respectively in the blocks 4 and 5. The bores l5 and; are respectively 1 continued through the blocks 4 and 5 and are closed by means of plugs I9, which are provided with elongated stems. The stem of the plug l3. affords a seating for the float I4 in the 2'4,.through which passes an inlet control element in the form of a cylindrical body or rod that: is axially bored from the lower end, as at 26, tor a distance of about half its length and is reduced in diameter at 21 at the position at which it traverses the passage 2| in order that the liquid may flowaround the said element and may pass by way of perforations 28 into the axial bore 26. The lower end of theinlet control element is provided with an orifice 3B which may be formed in a nozzle piece mounted upon it. The upper end of the element is screw threaded in order that'it maybe engaged with a screw thread in a bridge member 29 mounted on the blockij By means of the screw-thread the in let control element may be rotated as by a knurled head 3| in order that the nozzle or inlet orifice 30 may be adjusted in the axial direction and thus in relation to the level of liquid in the float chamber 2.

The lower end of the float chamber 2 is closed by a circular screw-threaded plug 32 in which is formed adischarge chamber 33 for the liquid The plug is formed to project axially into the float chamber for the purpose of supporting a fitting 34 proence to the upwardly directed needle 38 is varied by rotation of the inlet control element 25 by thehead 3| so that more or less. liquid will flow around the said needlev and produce a change in .the downwardly extending tapering needle 39 in the outlet orifice .35. Thus, ifthe inlet control element is raised toincrease the flow of liquid into the float chamber the level of liquid in the float chamber will rise carrying with it the float and consequentlylifting the needle 39 and increasing the flow throughthe outlet orifice 35 to an, extent correspondingto the final position assumed by the needle 38 in the inlet orifice'30. In this way a wide range of adjustment is possible, the. adjustment being effected in simple manner and so as quickly to. cause a constant fflow at the new rate to be attained. It is further possible to vary the limits within which the flow through the outlet can be varied by replacn he fit in 34 by another with an outlet orifice of lesser or greater. size. I

In order that the pressure conditions at the inlet to and outlet from the float chamber may be equalised the plug 32 is provided with a number of substantially radial passages 40 leading to an annularspace 4|. formed by a reduction in the diameter of the plug at the inner end, the space 4| being in communication witha passage 42 in the block 4, which passage is in communication by way of a vertical passage 43 with a passage 44 in the block 5. The latter passage com municates with the float chamber by the passage diagrammatically in Figure 3 the float 4B is again disposed within afloat chamber comprising a cylinder of glass or other transparent. material suitably seated in a base block 48 and in an upper closure block 49, gas and liquid-tight joints with the glass or like cylinder being made by means of the glands adapted to'compre'ss suitable packing in the seatings provided for the cylinder in the blocks 48,. and .48. The blocks 48 and 49 are maintained in fixed relation by means of distance members or stay bolts 51. The feed of liquid to the float chamber 41 is efiected from above through the upper block 49 by way of a tubular inlet control element 52 that is slidably mounted in a stuffing box in the block 49, provided with a gland 53. The liquid is supplied to the element 52 by way of the conduit 54 and a T-union 55. The element 52 is adapted for vertical adjustment through the gland 53 and for the purpose is provided with a rack 56 that is engaged by an operating pinion 51 adapted to be rotated as, for example, by means of a handle or the like. A pointer 58 in fixed relation to the rack 56 is adapted to indicate the movement of the inlet element on a scale 59. I

The oulet from the float chamber is provided at the upper end of a length of tube 68 that is screw-threaded to engage a screw-thread in the block 48 and has a calibrated orifice at the upper end. The tube is adapted for replacement as may be desired merely by removal from the block 48. The outlet tube 68 delivers into a cavity or discharge chamber 6| provided in the block 48, the said chamber being closed by a closure plug 62 provided with a delivery socket 63 for connection with a conduit leading the liquid away. The plug 62 is advantageously screw-threaded to engage a screw-thread formed at the outer end of the cavity BI and a tight joint is made by means of a washer engaged between the block 48 and the head of the plug 52. The float 46 is provided, as in the construction according to Figures 1 and 2, to carry two tapering needles 64, 55 in oppositely disposed positions above and below it so that the needle I54 may co-operate with the orifice of the inlet control element 52, while the needle 65 co-operates with'the outlet tube 68. Thus, according as the inlet element is adjusted in position by means of the pinion 51 and the rack 56 so a difference of head is produced in the float chamber 41 resulting in an adjustment of the position of the float 46 and consequent variation of the flow of liquid through the outlet tube 68.

The cavity or discharge chamber BI is in communication by means of a tube 66 with the float chamber 41 at a position in proximity to the orifice of the inlet element 52, the tube 66 being connected with the discharge chamber 6| by passages 61 and 68. The tube 66 thus ensures that the pressure within the float chamber below the inlet control element is the same as that immediately below the outlet tube 68 and thusthe efiect of any difference of pressure that might otherwise exist at these positions is avoided.

Accordilng to the construction represented diaagain is formed by a cylinder of glass or like matrial suitably seated in an upper closure block 18 and a closure plug 1I that is adapted to be screwed into an annular base member 12 which is maintained in fixed relation to the block 18 by bolts Or the like 13. The inlet control element 14 is adapted to be supplied with the liquid by way of a passage 15 in the block 18, which passage leads to a cylindrical cavity or opening 16 also formed in the block 18. The cavity or opening 16 is recessed at the upper and lower ends to form annular seatings for flexible diaphragms 11 which are secured in spaced relation upon the inlet control element 14. The diaphragms are maintained in position by means of annular retaining rings 18, 19 and thus form between them, with the cavity or opening 16, an inlet chamber whence the liquid passes by way of the perforations 88 in the element 14 to the inlet orifice. The element 14 is guided in a bridge member 8| conveniently formed integrally with the ring 19 and adjustment of the element 14 is effected by the means illustrated in Figure 3, that is to say, the inlet control element is in fixed relation to a rack 82 which is engaged by an operating pinion 83. A pointer 84 in fixed relation to the rack 82 may be provided to indicate the movement of the element 14 upon the scale 85.

A flow meter is connected between the supply conduit 86 for the liquid and the passage 15 and comprises a conical tube 81 that is secured in suitable seatings in the block 18 and the fitting 12 by gland 88, 89 and is adapted to contain an indicating float 98.

The outlet tube 9| of the float chamber is mounted centrally in the plug H in which is formed the discharge chamber 92 that is closed by the closure plate 93.

Figure 4 further illustrates the division of the controlled flow into a number of streams by the provision of a corresponding number of discharge nozzles 94, 95 which respectively deliver a flow of liquid into the discharge conduit 96 or 91. It will be observed that the flow to the conduits 95 and 91 may be proportioned as desired by suitable calibration of the discharge nozzles 94, 95 which are removable and exchangeable.

In order to secure equalisation of the pressure at the inlet and at each of the discharge nozzles there are provided the tubes 98 and 99 which advantageously serve as guides for the float I88. The latter, as before, is provided to carry the upwardly directed needle I8I for co-operation with the inlet orifice and the needle I 82 for co-foperation with the outlet tube 9 I.

In the modified construction represented diagrammatically in Figure 5 the float chamber I83 is formed with telescopic walls I84, I that are respectively secured to a base block I86 and a closure block I81. The walls I84, I85 are connected together by a cylinder I88 of flexible material. The inlet control element I89 is supported in a fixed position in the block I81 which is guided for axial movement by the guide rods I I 8. Such movement is effected by suitable means such as a rack III and operating pinion II 2 and, as in the case of the constructions represented in Figures 3 and 4, a pointer I I3 may be provided to indicate the movement of the block I81 on the scale I I4. It will thus be observed that when it is desired to vary the rate of flow through the outlet tube II5 the block I81 is adjusted in position by the operating pinion H2 and rack I II so that the orifice of the inlet element I89 is adjusted with reference to the needle IIB carried by the float II1. The consequent variation of level of the liquid in the float chamber I88 effects a readjustment of the position of the needle H8 with respect to the orifice of the outlet tube IE5.

The invention is applicable in any method, process or apparatus in which a controlled flow which can be readily varied is required and the invention is not limited to the particular c'onstructions hereinbefore described which are by way of example only.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for delivering a constant flow of liquid under a constant head maintained in relation to the outlet of the apparatus and adapted iior regulation of the flow of liquid, comprising a container through which th flow of liquid is maintained and within which the constant head of liquid is established, the said container having an adjustable inlet orifice and an outlet orifice, a control element responsive to a rise or fall of the liquid level within the container, and valve elements supported by the control element and associated respectively with the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice, the valve elements being so arranged with respect to the orifices that when the inlet orifice is adjusted to move away from the valve element associated therewith the head of liquid in the container is increased and the valve element associated with the inlet orifice maintains the increased head while the valve element associated with the outlet orifice moves away from the outlet orifice to increase the flow of liquid therefrom.

2. Apparatus for delivering a constant fiow of liquid under a constant head maintained in relation to the outlet of the apparatus and adapted i or regulation of the flow of liquid, comprising a container through which the flow of liquid is maintained and within whichthe constant head is established, the said container having an outlet orifice in the lower part and an inlet orifice disposed vertically above and in axial alignment with the outlet orifice, and a float within the container supporting oppositely disposed and axially aligned needle-like elements adapted to extend respectively into the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice, the forms of the said orifices and the co-operating needle-like elements being such that the effective area of each orifice is varied according to the extent of the entry of the needle like element into the orifice, and adjustment to increase the inlet orifice resulting in a rise in the level of the liquid in the container and a consequent increase in the effective area of the outlet orifice on the rise of the float.

3. Apparatus for delivering a constant flow of liquid under a constant head maintained in relation to the outlet of the apparatus and adapted for regulation of the flow of liquid, comprising a container through which the flow of liquid is maintained and within which the constant head is established, and having in the lower part an outlet orifice, an axially adjustable inlet control element mounted in the container and supporting an inlet orifice in a position vertically above and in axial alignment with the outlet orifice, and a fio-at within the said container supporting oppositely disposed and axially aligned needles adapted to extend respectively into the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice, so that on a movement of the inlet control element in the direction to withdraw the inlet orifice the effective area of the said orifice is increased with consequent increase of the head of liquid and rise of the float resulting in an increase of the effective area of the outlet orifice.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the 'needle co-operating with the outlet orifice is longer than the needle co-operating with the inlet orifice and is of less sharply tapered form.

-2,a1e, ears 5; Apparatus accordin to claim 3, for proportioning two flows of liquid in a determined ratio 7 for delivery in admixture, comprising for each flow of liquid 2. container with an adjustable inlet orifice and an outlet orifice and a float with oppositely disposed tapering needles co-operating with th said inlet and outlet orifices, and a common discharge chamber into which the said outlet orifices deliver the respective flows of liquid.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a discharge chamber is provided to receive the delivery from the outlet orifice for distribution.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a discharge chamber is provided to receive the delivery from the outlet orifice and is provided with a plurality of outlets for subdivision of the flow of liquid, 7

8. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a discharge chamber is provided to receive the delivery from the outlet orifice and is provided with distributing nozzles the cross-sectional areas of which are proportioned to the flows to be determined respectively by them. 1

9. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a pressure equalisin conduit is provided to connect the upper part of the container above the liquid level with the delivery side of the outlet orifice.

10. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inlet control element is a tubular element that is axially adjustable, as by screwing, in the head of the container.

11. Apparatus according to claim 3, having an inlet control element that is axially movable in the head of the container and adjusting mechanism for effecting movement of the inlet control element.

12. Apparatus according to claim 3, having the inlet control element mounted in fixed relation to the head of the container, the said head being axially adjustable.

13. Apparatus for delivering a constant fiow of 7 liquid under a constant head maintained in relation to the outlet of the apparatus andadapted for regulation of the flow of liquid, comprising a container through which the fiow of liquid is maintained and within which the constant head of liquid is established, the said container having an adjustable inlet orifice and an outlet orifice, an inflow regulating element responsive to the liquid level in the container and arranged to adjust the head of liquid in amordance with the adjustment of the inlet orifice, and an outflow regulating element in the container responsive to the variations in th head of liquid and adapted to vary the efiective area of the outlet orifice correspondingly the outlet orifice and outflow regulating element being so arranged that arise in the head of liquid as accompanied by an increase in the effective area of the outlet orifice.

CYRIL HARRY EVANS. 

